POLITICAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 29 June 1928, Page 4

POLITICAL.

NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION. Formal notice of his intention to move a no-confidence motion in the Government was given by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr H. E. Holland), in the House of Representatives yesterday. This followed an intimation by Mr F. Waite (Clutha) that ho intended, to move the Address-in-Reply to the Speech from the Throne. It is understood that unemployment will be the main ground of Mr Holland ’s amendment. DAYLIGHT SAVING. The general opinion among members is that the Summer Time Bill will not get the same consideration in the House as it did last session, and that it will never reach the third reading stage. Current lobby gossip is that opponents of the measure now have a sufficient majority to reverse last year’s decision. On the other hand, it is suggested that Mr Sidey may attempt to compromise with a proposal for half an hour’s daylight saving. PERIOD OF EASTER. Sir George Hunter (Waipawa) gave notice in the House of Representatives yesterday to ask the Prime Minister if he will this session introduce legislation fixing the date of Easter. P.P.A. AND REFORM PARTY. The Protestant Political Association’s recent quarrel with the Reform party has not been allowed to pass unnoticed by the Government’s opponents in the House.

Very early at question time yesterday, Mr J* A. Lee (Auckland East) was on his feet, and he solemnly ga'c the Prime Minister notice of his intention to ask if ho (Mr Coates) had been made the recipient of the P.P.A. “Rcn onstrance ’’ which had been circularised to private members of the Reform Party, and if the matter would be dealt with at the next Reform caucus. He also wished to know if the absence of a statement on the subject from the Prime Minister could be taken as an indication that the Reform Party had made its peace with the P.P.A. The questions evoked laughter from the House, Mr Lee himself being unable to retain the air of solemnity with which he began. DAYLIGHT BAKING. In accordance with a promise given l.y the Minister of Labour last session, a conference of parties interested in the baking trade, with a view to discussing the possibility of an agreement ci; the question of daylight baking, took place about three weeks ago. The Acting-Minister (Hon. R. A. Wright) stated yesterday that he had received the report of the conference, and that the parties had been unable to agree. In those circumstances, said Mr Wright, it was not proposed to introduce legislation on the subject. PUBLIC TRUST OPPICE.

A question bearing on the accounts of the Public Trust Office was raised by Mr J. G. Eliott (Oroua), in _ the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr Eliott asked the Prime Minister whether, should the state of accounts of the Public Trust Office for the year ended March 31st last be not yet printed, he would instruct the Public Trustee to disclose 'in the profit and loss account the various sources and the amount of each source from which the income of the office was derived.. <<The Public Trust Office,” replied Mr Coates, “'.submits its accounts strict1,- in accordance with 'Statute. I have no power in that connection, and only Parliament can alter it.” Mr Eliott: “Can you get the information .’ The Prime. Minister: I think you can get it from the balance sheets when they are submitted. A member: You have no hope. BRIDGE ACROSS WAITEMATA. However seriously the question of constructing a bridge across the Waitemata harbour may be regarded on the North Shore, the House of Representatives showed yesterday that it had little disposition to look on the i\or' as a matter of moment.

Mr A. Harris (Waitemata) gave notice to ask the Prime Minister if the Government would provide a sufficient sum on the estimates to carry out an exploration of the bed of Auckland harbour and to prepare the preliminary plans for the bridge. The question was greeted with a roar of laughter from all sides of the house.